Bendiksen told Tromso's official website: "I had a very good contract offer from Rangers but I said 'no thanks'. Tromso IL are a good club with ambitions to be even better.

"I aim to play my way to a permanent place in the team and look forward to an exciting season, both at home and not least in the Europa League."

Bendiksen's departure comes as McCoist is confronted by a shortage of attacking options and he said he would hold transfer talks with chairman Craig Whyte following Monday's 3-0 win over Motherwell, which kept Rangers two points behind league leaders Celtic.

Top scorer Nikica Jelavic, the subject of mounting transfer speculation, missed the game with a groin strain while Kyle Lafferty was carried off early on with a hamstring injury that McCoist fears will keep the forward out for four to five weeks.

With Steven Naismith ruled out for the season with a knee injury, David Healy was the only experienced striker fit enough to take on Motherwell.

Healy was making his first SPL start of the season and responded with his first goal, 10 minutes before the break. The 32-year-old has struggled to make a major impact but McCoist was happy with his introduction.

"Even outwith his goal, I thought Healy's performance in terms of forward play was really good," McCoist said.

"If I had one criticism of our front men in recent weeks, it would probably be that the ball hasn't been sticking enough for us.

"It's not been solid, it's not been tight and we've not been allowed to bring people in.

"It was important that we made that change and I thought David Healy did it really well. He showed up, was taking a touch and bringing people in."

One of Healy's former managers, Billy Davies, was at the game working for Rangers TV and he has backed the Northern Ireland record goalscorer to seize his chance.

Former Rangers midfielder Davies said: "I was fortunate enough to have him at Preston and he was a terrific player for us at that time and he has been an excellent international player.

"What David needs now is a run of games. It's OK coming in and out but he will be wanting to try to string some matches together.

"He had the opportunity to come in and do what he does best and score and he did that.

"He took his goal well after a very good run from Maurice Edu – and it was a typical David Healy finish.

"The one thing he does give you is maximum commitment because he is a fantastic professional.

"That goal will have done him the world of good.

"You don't have the career record he has without being a good player and the other thing about him is that he is a very honest lad and works very hard."

McCoist is looking for reinforcements though and refused to rule out a contract offer to former Ibrox striker Nacho Novo, who trained with his former team-mates during the festive season.

A proposed loan move for John Fleck to Sheffield United looks to be off after the attacking midfielder replaced Lafferty against Motherwell, and McCoist will now hope to persuade Whyte to allow him to bring in his targets.

The Rangers manager said: "I've got names, absolutely. I've got as many names as anybody wants, to be honest with you.

"I know what we want and I know what we need and I know what we would like to get. That's where we are."